Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2016, published 106th ILC session (2017)

Radiation Protection Convention, 1960 (No. 115) - New Caledonia

General observation of 2015. The Committee wishes to draw the Government’s attention to its general observation of 2015 on this Convention, and particularly the request for information contained in paragraph 30.

Article 1 of the Convention. Laws or regulations. Article 3(1) and (2). Appropriate measures to ensure the effective protection of workers against ionizing radiations. Articles 6, 7 and 8. Maximum permissible doses of ionizing radiations. Article 14. Discontinuation of assignment to work involving exposure to ionizing radiations further to medical advice and the offer of alternative employment. In its previous comment, the Committee requested the Government to continue its efforts to adopt the necessary legislative amendments to ensure conformity with the Convention. The Committee welcomes the Government’s indication in its report that, following the signature in September 2013 of the framework agreement on technical assistance with the Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN) of France, the ASN has undertaken an updating of the regulations on radiation protection in collaboration with the various competent Government services. The Committee notes that, according to the Government, the new regulations should be adopted in December 2016. In this regard, the Committee wishes to draw the Government’s attention to the following paragraphs of its general observation of 2015: paragraph 31 on the system of radiation protection; paragraphs 32–35 on the current recommendations for maximum permissible dose limits; and paragraph 40 on the discontinuation of assignment to work involving exposure to ionizing radiations further to medical advice and the offer of alternative employment. The Committee hopes that the new regulations will be adopted in the very near future and will give effect to the Convention, and particularly to Article 3(1) and (2) and to Articles 6, 7, 8 and 14 of the Convention, in light of the above paragraphs of the general observation of 2015. It requests the Government to provide a copy of the regulations when they have been adopted.

Article 9(2). Instruction for workers engaged in radiation work. With reference to its previous comment, in which it requested the Government to indicate the measures adopted or envisaged to ensure that all workers directly engaged in radiation work are duly trained, the Committee notes the Government’s indication that the training provided in 2013 by ASN inspectors, and repeated in 2014, was targeted at counterparts identified in each of the competent services, as well as at resource persons in establishments adopting procedures using ionizing radiations. However, the Committee notes that the Government does not provide information on the instruction provided to workers directly engaged in radiation work, as required by Article 9(2) of the Convention. The Committee once again requests the Government to provide information on the measures adopted or envisaged, in law and practice, to ensure that all workers directly engaged in radiation work are duly instructed.